Towel dispenser



April 10, 1928.

I J. o. HUNT TOWEL DISPENSER Filed l7, 1926 INVENTOR JoH/v O- HQ jw/MmATTORNEY Patented Apr. 10,1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicn.

JOHN O. HUNT, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO INDEPENDENT PAPERMILLS,

' INCL, OF BROOKLYN, NEV YORK.

TOWEL DISPENSER.

Application filed March 17, 1928. Serial No. 95,449.

This invention relates to cabinets and par ticularly to such as areadapted for use in connection with paper towels and other artion asherein described ticles of analogous nature.

It is one object of the invention to provide a cabinet in which suchcommodities may be safely stored in a sanitary condition, free fromhandling, and from which they may be delivered singly by propermanipulation.

A further feature is in the provision of a follower resting on theuppermost article by which they are urged into an accessible position,and to combine with the follower a simple but efiective device toprevent an unwarranted rising movement of the follower until depletionof the stock. 7

Another aim is in the production of means to automatically release andretract the follower coincidently with raising the front panel, as inreplenishing the cabinet.

A still further object is to produce an ineXpensive cabinet ofattractive appearance. constructed mainly from sheet metal and adaptedto be secured to any vertical wall where it is conveniently accessible.

These several objects are insured by the characteristic features of thepresent invenand shown in the associated drawing forming part hereof,and in which Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of an embodiment of theinvention, partially broken away to show the construction and relationof parts.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View taken on line 2-42 of Fig.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1. V

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the follower indetail.

The cabinet consists of a sheet metal plate sheared and shaped topresent an oblong rectangular rear wall 10, top plate 11, side walls 12and an angularly outstandingraised face plate 13, the latter elementcontaining a transverse rectangular opening 14: having fancifully formedcorners and outwardly curved, smoothly finished flanged edges 15,through which the towels X may be withdrawn singly.

The front edges of the side walls 12 are curled oppositely to producebeadings 16 ex tending from the top plate 11 to just above the junctionof the face plate flange 17, these headings being open at their innerfacing- 30, as blocks of 7 contact points 26 sides to receive a slidableplate 18, provided with a knob 19 or plate fitting the heading neatly atits sides and entering below the flange 17 when fully inserted tocompletelycovcr the front-of the structure.

The towels X are like lifting means, the

20 at points 26 outwardly beyond the studs 24 as best seen in Fig. 4. t

'On one of the raised adjacent ends of the curved plates is secured aclip 27 bridging the variable space 28 therebetween and ex tending overthe opposed edge of the mating plate to transmit motion to it whendepressed so as to cause them to move in unison. 7

On the outer, reduced angular ends 29 of the plates are securedfrictional elements rubber, which, due to their weight, tend to rock theplates upon their within the limit of the length of the studs 24- onwhich they freely move.

The plate 20 is so proportioned as ate freely within the casing and thefriction block carrying to opercurved, plates are so contrived as topermit ready descent of the follower, but upon an attempt to raise thefollower the friction blocks engage the inner surfaces of the side wallsof the casing and positively prevent such movement.

It is therefore necessary to raise the blocks 3O preliminary toelevating the follower as an entity, which may be accomplished bydepressing the clip 27 by hand or automati- Although the foregoing isdescriptive of the preferred embodiment of the invention, it Will beapparent that minor changes may be made in its construction, Without theclaims hereto appended.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is z a 1. In a towel dispenser, a receptacleprovided at one end With an opening for the manual Withdrawal of itscontents, a follower adapted to move and hold the said contents inposition in the said opening, the said follower comprising a metal platehavv ing widened end portions, studs set in the plate, a pair of curvedplates pivotally mounted on-the plate and resting on the plate at pointsoutwardly beyond said studs, frictional elements mounted on the outerelen ents of said curved plates, said frictional elements being arrangedto engage the side alls Of the receptacle.

2. Ina towel dispenser, a receptacle provided at one end With an openingfor the manual Withdrawal of its contents, and a follower adapted tomove and hold the said contents in position in said opening, the saidfollower comprising a metal plate, and a pair otcurved plates pivotallymounted on the plate, frictional elements mounted on the outer ends ofsuch curved plates to engage the side Walls of the receptacle.

JOHN O I-lUN'l.

